Summary: Dr. Juanes and his team are researching underground deposits of ice that contain large quantities of the potent greenhouse gas, methane. As global temperatures warm, these methane gas hydrates could melt and flow to the earth’s surface.

Understanding the structure and flow patterns of melting gas hydrates is critical so that methane can be harvested before it is released into the atmosphere. Capturing trapped methane would prevent it from contributing to further climate change, and it would allow scientists and engineers to harness the enormous potential of these methane gas stores to produce energy.